Wantanabe Natori, otherwise known as "Sera" by her friends sat behind Touga with a brush clutched in her hand. Touga stared aimlessly in front of him as Sera ran the brush through his hair a few times. "Will you escort me to the photo shoot?" The girl pushed her own wavy hair over her shoulders.
"If you'd like me to." Touga didn't sound enthusiastic.
Sera's eyes lowered. "You don't have to if you don't want to, I won't be offended."
Touga took the brush from the girl's hands and turned to face her. "It won't be a problem at all."
Sera's face flushed as Touga stared into her eyes. "What's the matter?"
"Just thinking about things..." Touga fumbled with the brush in his hair.
Sera smiled to herself and turned her back to him. She shook her hair free which was Touga's queue to help her. The chairman happily complied and ran the brush through her hair. "Thinking about things like what?"
"Well, this brings back old memories..." Touga laughed.
"Don't change the subject, Kiryuu"
"I'm just worried about how Nanami will feel once you leave again. When you left, she was upset and shut herself in her room all week. She came out, and she was a different person. What's going to happen to her this time?" Touga dropped the brush at the girl's side.
"Nothing will happen, because Nanami is more mature now. She knows I'll always be there for her. We're best friends." Sera ran her fingers across the school tie. It's red and yellow striped pattern always looked so weird against the green and white of the school's colors.
"I've never seen her shine so bright as when she's with you. It's almost..." Touga stared off.
"Almost?"
"Nothing." Kiryuu stood to his feet and extended his hand to help Sera up. "Let's walk around campus a bit and meet old faces."
"I'd like that." The girl's silver eyes regained their brightness.
A few of the female classmates dashed over to Sera quickly. They'd all remembered each other and were eager to welcome their new friend back. The girls chatted briefly before breaking off. Sera stopped in front of the duelist arena and pressed her hand to her heart. "How sad this place feels..."
"You're free, Sera, don't look back." Touga placed his hand on her shoulder and the two walked away.
"Chuchu! Come back!!!" The pesky rodent had made off with Utena's crackers. The girl didn't look up in time to completely mow Sera over. Rubbing her head, Utena stood up and apologized a million times. Touga placed his hand to his mouth and let out a soft giggle.
"Utena-san, meet Wantanabe Natori. She was a student from here." Touga handed her Chuchu who has already eaten all the crackers.
Utena extended her ring-bearing hand to shake Sera's. The girl glanced down at the rose crest and then slowly shook Utena's hand. "Pleased to meet you!"
"Likewise" Sera stared at the ring. "Are you the current victor of the duels?"
Utena pulled her hand away and frowned. "I am..."
Having nothing more to say, Sera walked past Utena, connecting shoulders with her for a moment. She leaned over, close to the girl's ear and whispered, "Take better care of her than I did...". With that, Sera walked away with Touga.
The pink haired duelist stood ramrod straight, but didn't turn around to see Sera off. They walked off into separate directions.
"Sera! I saved you a seat!" Nanami pulled a chair out from the table in the cafeteria.
"Oh! I shouldn't eat this close to a shoot! I'm fine. We'll pig out afterwards!" Sera sat down anyway.
"We shouldn't waste more time than we have to if we want to be on time. I'm sure you have to put on makeup and so on..." Touga sipped a cup of tea.
Sera slowly stood up. "Yes, that's true."
The photo shoot was a new experience for Nanami. (Not for Touga who seemed to be Akio's main subject XD...). The girl admired the way the beauticians curled Sera's hair and applied light make up to the girl's already distinct features. Once finished, Sera turned around to seek Nanami's approval of her look. Nanami stood up and placed a pair of diamond earrings in the taller girl's hands. "Remember these? You gave them to me when you left the first time. Wear them and you'll look perfect." Nanami kneeled by Sera's side and helped her put them on.
Touga lingered in the back, watching the chemistry between the two women. His main focus was on Nanami and how she became so much like Sera when the two were together. Deep inside, he knew he wasn't her birth brother, and that any love between them was simply sibling affection each other shared. It bothered Touga, though, because he'd felt sibling affection for Nanami, but this kind of love wasn't the kind that he felt for his little sister, it was the way he'd feel about a woman that had captured his heart. Indeed, Nanami had grown up to blossom into a kind and gentle young lady. He knew parts of her that Oothori's student body would never know. Nanami just believed in her big brother, and they thrived off each other.
Touga found a wall to lean against, and continued to watch their behavior. Nanami placed her hand to her mouth as Sera whispered something that made her blush. The blonde girl turned to face her big brother and waved innocently. Touga waved back, but felt a blush rush to his face. Afraid of how someone would take it, he let his bangs fall over his face and peeked out from behind them.
Sera was set up in some basic positions. She leaned against a pole, walked down a set of stairs, held onto a hat in a windy setting, she even took a few advertisement pictures, holding up a bottle of Yogloo and a peace sign. Nanami took delight in watching Sera captivate the camera crew, as the photographer said nothing more than "left, right, GOOD!" over and over again. After about thirty rolls of film, Sera was ready for a break.
"Come to me, Nana-chan!" Sera held her hands out and welcomed the girl into her arms. The photographer took advantage of the moment to snap a few school girl pictures of them while they sat on a bench in front of a meadow scenery backdrop. Without really acknowledging the cameraman, Nanami and Sera conversed as they normally would, sharing a glass of juice and teasing each other.
"Onee-sama. Come." Nanami beckoned. She moved over and made a place for Touga to seat himself on the bench. Touga smiled and pleasantly obliged as the girls included him in their conversation. All in Oothori Academy attire, they sat around in conversation as the photographer snapped pictures for the fun of it.
"If you'll excuse me a moment..." Sera stood up and walked over to the cameraman. She whispered something into his ear and watched as his grin spread from ear to ear. Spinning around to face Touga and Nanami, Sera shouted "Smile!" and retreated to freshen her makeup.
The Kiryuu siblings stared in confusion as the photographer loaded his camera with another roll of film. "Natori-sama has laid out costumes for you to wear. She hoped you would model as well."
"Me?" Touga pointed to himself.
"Huh?" Nanami's head tilted in confusion.
The photographer held out his hand to show them where two duelist uniforms and a pair of shoji screens stood.
"She's good..." Touga laughed and scratched his head.
Nanami loosened her tie as she walked to the screen. "Too good."
"I'd like to get a few pictures of you two before Sera comes in with her new costume." The photographer pointed to a backdrop of a rose garden.
They took countless pictures together, Touga and Nanami. Each of them silently wondered what in the world Sera had planned for them. A few more pictures and the photographer backed away to allow Sera to enter the shoot once more. Touga's face flushed when he gazed upon Sera who didn't look so eager herself. "This is my way of telling you something, Nana-chan. I'll explain it to you when we get home..."
Two duelists stood, swords brandished, over an elegant young woman holding a rose between her fingers. She sat on the floor so that the puffy lining of her dress rose up and made her seem to be rising out of a silver rose. Two duelists and a bride. Nanami glanced down at Sera who glanced up at her at the same time. Locking eyes, the girls and Touga finished the unexpected photo shoot and set out for Oothori Academy.
The ride back was incredibly silent as tension grew thick enough to cut with a knife. Sera sat with her head turned to face out the window. Her head being supported by her hand as she was deep in thought. They reached the dormitory at nightfall when, surely, everyone should've been asleep. Instead, Himemiya Anthy stood at the door of the Kiryuu dormitory and waited patiently.
Sera's face changed from worried to devastated as she gazed upon Anthy who never rose her head to acknowledge the three. "Could you take Nanami off to bed please, Touga. I want to speak with Himemiya alone."
Touga carried the sleeping girl inside and nodded at Himemiya who slowly bowed and turned to face Sera. "Let's go."
Anthy's expression never changed. "Where?"
"To the Duelist Arena..." Sera turned to face the forbidden forest.
End of Ch. 3
A/N: Aah! now we're getting somewhere!
"If you'd like me to." Touga didn't sound enthusiastic.
Sera's eyes lowered. "You don't have to if you don't want to, I won't be offended."
Touga took the brush from the girl's hands and turned to face her. "It won't be a problem at all."
Sera's face flushed as Touga stared into her eyes. "What's the matter?"
"Just thinking about things..." Touga fumbled with the brush in his hair.
Sera smiled to herself and turned her back to him. She shook her hair free which was Touga's queue to help her. The chairman happily complied and ran the brush through her hair. "Thinking about things like what?"
"Well, this brings back old memories..." Touga laughed.
"Don't change the subject, Kiryuu"
"I'm just worried about how Nanami will feel once you leave again. When you left, she was upset and shut herself in her room all week. She came out, and she was a different person. What's going to happen to her this time?" Touga dropped the brush at the girl's side.
"Nothing will happen, because Nanami is more mature now. She knows I'll always be there for her. We're best friends." Sera ran her fingers across the school tie. It's red and yellow striped pattern always looked so weird against the green and white of the school's colors.
"I've never seen her shine so bright as when she's with you. It's almost..." Touga stared off.
"Almost?"
"Nothing." Kiryuu stood to his feet and extended his hand to help Sera up. "Let's walk around campus a bit and meet old faces."
"I'd like that." The girl's silver eyes regained their brightness.
A few of the female classmates dashed over to Sera quickly. They'd all remembered each other and were eager to welcome their new friend back. The girls chatted briefly before breaking off. Sera stopped in front of the duelist arena and pressed her hand to her heart. "How sad this place feels..."
"You're free, Sera, don't look back." Touga placed his hand on her shoulder and the two walked away.
"Chuchu! Come back!!!" The pesky rodent had made off with Utena's crackers. The girl didn't look up in time to completely mow Sera over. Rubbing her head, Utena stood up and apologized a million times. Touga placed his hand to his mouth and let out a soft giggle.
"Utena-san, meet Wantanabe Natori. She was a student from here." Touga handed her Chuchu who has already eaten all the crackers.
Utena extended her ring-bearing hand to shake Sera's. The girl glanced down at the rose crest and then slowly shook Utena's hand. "Pleased to meet you!"
"Likewise" Sera stared at the ring. "Are you the current victor of the duels?"
Utena pulled her hand away and frowned. "I am..."
Having nothing more to say, Sera walked past Utena, connecting shoulders with her for a moment. She leaned over, close to the girl's ear and whispered, "Take better care of her than I did...". With that, Sera walked away with Touga.
The pink haired duelist stood ramrod straight, but didn't turn around to see Sera off. They walked off into separate directions.
"Sera! I saved you a seat!" Nanami pulled a chair out from the table in the cafeteria.
"Oh! I shouldn't eat this close to a shoot! I'm fine. We'll pig out afterwards!" Sera sat down anyway.
"We shouldn't waste more time than we have to if we want to be on time. I'm sure you have to put on makeup and so on..." Touga sipped a cup of tea.
Sera slowly stood up. "Yes, that's true."
The photo shoot was a new experience for Nanami. (Not for Touga who seemed to be Akio's main subject XD...). The girl admired the way the beauticians curled Sera's hair and applied light make up to the girl's already distinct features. Once finished, Sera turned around to seek Nanami's approval of her look. Nanami stood up and placed a pair of diamond earrings in the taller girl's hands. "Remember these? You gave them to me when you left the first time. Wear them and you'll look perfect." Nanami kneeled by Sera's side and helped her put them on.
Touga lingered in the back, watching the chemistry between the two women. His main focus was on Nanami and how she became so much like Sera when the two were together. Deep inside, he knew he wasn't her birth brother, and that any love between them was simply sibling affection each other shared. It bothered Touga, though, because he'd felt sibling affection for Nanami, but this kind of love wasn't the kind that he felt for his little sister, it was the way he'd feel about a woman that had captured his heart. Indeed, Nanami had grown up to blossom into a kind and gentle young lady. He knew parts of her that Oothori's student body would never know. Nanami just believed in her big brother, and they thrived off each other.
Touga found a wall to lean against, and continued to watch their behavior. Nanami placed her hand to her mouth as Sera whispered something that made her blush. The blonde girl turned to face her big brother and waved innocently. Touga waved back, but felt a blush rush to his face. Afraid of how someone would take it, he let his bangs fall over his face and peeked out from behind them.
Sera was set up in some basic positions. She leaned against a pole, walked down a set of stairs, held onto a hat in a windy setting, she even took a few advertisement pictures, holding up a bottle of Yogloo and a peace sign. Nanami took delight in watching Sera captivate the camera crew, as the photographer said nothing more than "left, right, GOOD!" over and over again. After about thirty rolls of film, Sera was ready for a break.
"Come to me, Nana-chan!" Sera held her hands out and welcomed the girl into her arms. The photographer took advantage of the moment to snap a few school girl pictures of them while they sat on a bench in front of a meadow scenery backdrop. Without really acknowledging the cameraman, Nanami and Sera conversed as they normally would, sharing a glass of juice and teasing each other.
"Onee-sama. Come." Nanami beckoned. She moved over and made a place for Touga to seat himself on the bench. Touga smiled and pleasantly obliged as the girls included him in their conversation. All in Oothori Academy attire, they sat around in conversation as the photographer snapped pictures for the fun of it.
"If you'll excuse me a moment..." Sera stood up and walked over to the cameraman. She whispered something into his ear and watched as his grin spread from ear to ear. Spinning around to face Touga and Nanami, Sera shouted "Smile!" and retreated to freshen her makeup.
The Kiryuu siblings stared in confusion as the photographer loaded his camera with another roll of film. "Natori-sama has laid out costumes for you to wear. She hoped you would model as well."
"Me?" Touga pointed to himself.
"Huh?" Nanami's head tilted in confusion.
The photographer held out his hand to show them where two duelist uniforms and a pair of shoji screens stood.
"She's good..." Touga laughed and scratched his head.
Nanami loosened her tie as she walked to the screen. "Too good."
"I'd like to get a few pictures of you two before Sera comes in with her new costume." The photographer pointed to a backdrop of a rose garden.
They took countless pictures together, Touga and Nanami. Each of them silently wondered what in the world Sera had planned for them. A few more pictures and the photographer backed away to allow Sera to enter the shoot once more. Touga's face flushed when he gazed upon Sera who didn't look so eager herself. "This is my way of telling you something, Nana-chan. I'll explain it to you when we get home..."
Two duelists stood, swords brandished, over an elegant young woman holding a rose between her fingers. She sat on the floor so that the puffy lining of her dress rose up and made her seem to be rising out of a silver rose. Two duelists and a bride. Nanami glanced down at Sera who glanced up at her at the same time. Locking eyes, the girls and Touga finished the unexpected photo shoot and set out for Oothori Academy.
The ride back was incredibly silent as tension grew thick enough to cut with a knife. Sera sat with her head turned to face out the window. Her head being supported by her hand as she was deep in thought. They reached the dormitory at nightfall when, surely, everyone should've been asleep. Instead, Himemiya Anthy stood at the door of the Kiryuu dormitory and waited patiently.
Sera's face changed from worried to devastated as she gazed upon Anthy who never rose her head to acknowledge the three. "Could you take Nanami off to bed please, Touga. I want to speak with Himemiya alone."
Touga carried the sleeping girl inside and nodded at Himemiya who slowly bowed and turned to face Sera. "Let's go."
Anthy's expression never changed. "Where?"
"To the Duelist Arena..." Sera turned to face the forbidden forest.
End of Ch. 3
A/N: Aah! now we're getting somewhere!